Northern Ontario curlers successfully sweep tournaments

It was a successful weekend for two curling rinks from northeastern Ontario.

Tracy Horgans rink, based in Sudbury, won the northern Ontario women's curling championship. It was held at the Fort William Curling Club in Thunder Bay.

The victory is a first step to landing a spot at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, a national womens championship.

Horgan spoke on CBC Radios Morning North program on Monday.

The Scotties changed their format this year, she explained.

So they are making it more consistent with the Brier, the mens national championship. So that meant adding a team northern Ontario to the Scotties.

Horgans work is not finished though, as under the new format, the rink must play a pre-qualifier game against the Yukon and Northwest Territories to secure a spot for Northern Ontario at the Tournament of Hearst in February.

Not luxurious

The Jacobs Rink out of Sault Ste. Marie also had a successful weekend, as it won the Pintys All-Star Curling Skins game in Alberta.

E.J. Harnden spoke with CBC Radio's Up North program.

He plays second with the rinkand said the $65,500 prize is a bonus.

Curling [is] not luxurious by any means, he explained.

Im flying back home right now and Im going to go back to work tomorrow morning. So, any time we can pick up a little extra cash and have a good pay day, its great.

Looking forward, Harnden said the rink is now focusing on preparing for the provincial playoffs and hopes to make to the Brier.

Harnden also shared a bit of personal information about members of the rink.

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